I detect that English is your mother-tongue which is the main requirement (International regulations mandate that one must translate into one's own language - something usually disbelieved in China - although this requirement varies for interpreters).
A Masters (Translation) degree is useful, especially if you wish to join a translation society but, having said that, students could join, and it is a great way to conduct the essential networking.
In addition to a language degree, it is almost essential to have another technical qualification, for example, a basic engineering or science college certificate.
I do not think that "most" translators work for free but, in China, you will need to exert enormous effort trying to convince industry that Chinese translators of Chinese into English produce terrible work (You may wish to consider editing).
It takes many, many, years to gain the required experience, but do not give up because it is a great profession ... and quite lucrative in Europe and North America.
Kunming minimum wage to rise to 8 yuan/hour
Posted byI often wonder why wages are negotiated as a percentage. This is ridiculous; 22% = 1 yuan!
Now, without any fanfare, the boss will increase his wage by 22%, even though his purchase of rice and vegetables cost the same.
After all, isn't this the reason for wage increases.
Please stop the world, I want to get off.
Kunming Fair: An overview
Posted byIt's not surprising that the Kunming Fair is just as unorganized as ever.
Having visited on previous years, there is little initiative to visit again.
I might point out that the reason for the absence of a ticket booth is due, in my opinion, to anybody who is anybody in Kunming being given neck tokens (tickets) by friends of friends (if you know what I mean?). My previous experience indicates that the booth staff recycle their passes many times back through the fence.
Only in Kunming!
Yunnan preparing warily for China smoking ban
Posted byNice article, Dan.
As someone with a relationship with the medical profession in Kunming and knowing of the unfortunately high level of smoking by MDs, could I suggest replacing the cigarette butt photo with a photo of a cigarette-smoking doctor - It shouldn't be too dificult - perhaps even a collage of photos. ;-)
Mekong summit blames weather, not Chinese dams, for low water levels
Posted byIn my opinion, for what it's worth, to say that the drying up of the Mekong river is solely the result of the lack of rain is like saying that it's really due to natural evaporation. Of course, without a doubt, the dams are the main reason, and continuing to build these dams will have a catastrophic effect in the very near future.
China's nationalistic bullying tactics of raping the natural environment of other countries in order to develop its own power base is nothing less than criminal.
Getting away: Yuanyang's rice terraces
Posted byChris; just as I said, your writing creations will improve. ;-(